Not enough calories?

I know this has been posted time and time again but I need some help. It seems like I can help others when they have questions like this but (of course) I can't take my own advice!!

I am 22 yrs old, 5'6" and currently weigh around 168lbs. My body type is very muscular legs and arms, flabby belly/back/face. I am looking to get down to about 135-140 ultimately. I had been losing just fin on 1300 calories about a month or two ago, and then I had a bad binge cycle for about a month, gained some poundage back, and got myself back on track. Now I've been doing 1300 cals for about two weeks and really havent seen ANY loss. I've tried all the plateau-busting tricks, tons of water, measure/weigh food carefully, up/change exercise, etc. I am just about to get my period (in about a week), so I know some of this is due to that.

The only thing that has changed from when I was losing before is that I have a very physically demanding job now (cook at a high volume restaurant) and am usually running around like crazy all day long. I was excited when I started because I felt WORKED after a long day, and KNEW I burned some extra cals. My question is... should I be eating closer to 1500 cals a day now that I am far more active?

I suppose I know that I SHOULD be eating more now that I'm expending more, but I am scared to do it. I guess I need some reassurance that eating these extra 200 calories a day will only help me and not keep me from losing. ..

Wow... long winded!

You may need more than 200 extra calories on the days that you work. 
I walk 10 km a day just working an 8 hour shift.
Put the closest choices that you can find from the activity finder and go from there.

Definitely eat more! You're probably burning a ton more calories. I work at a restaurant too, as a hostess, and a 5-hour shift leaves me at about 1950 burned for the day. If I work a double (which you might since you said you work all day), which are nine hours, I burn around 2200-2300 for the day. And I'm 5'2 and 123 pounds. I've lost 27 pounds eating about 1600 a day. 1500 sounds much more appropriate for you than 1300.

I have a very active job too and hit the gym 3 times a week.  You need to eat lots more.  Your binge was probably triggered by your body starving.  The same thing happens to me if I go too many days eating less than 1700.  I am a machinist in a hot factory and I lose weight just fine eating 1800 to 2000 cals a day.  EAT MORE!!!  Your job demands it.  If you don't, you will burn out and your body will probably force you to binge again. 

Thank you so much, everyone. I will definitely have a pep talk with myself and focus on having it be OK to eat more. You guys are awesome. <3

 

btw my shifts are usually 8-4 with a half hour break, I'm going to get a pedometer so I can estimate my  calories burned better!

I'd get a pedometer and wear it at work for a while so you can see what you're averaging and up your calorie intake accordingly.

As an extra treat, you might try to have just 1 high calorie meal to shock your system out of it's stasis.

We have similar stats. I'm 5'6" and started at 163 and have reached 149, shooting for 140 to 130. I work on my feet and run around a bit, and lose decently at between 1200-1350, but I'm always hungry and have hit a plateau. Definitely try adding in 100 or 200 more calories of high-quality protein and fiber rich foods like oats or legumes. If you're feeling hungry a lot, which you didn't mention so maybe you aren't, or if you're just not losing anymore, it might be unmet demand, and giving 100 calories more daily a try for a bit won't cause too much hurt if it doesn't work out. I'm going to be trying out the same thing, and hope for the best.